New Delhi: BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu quit as a Member of Parliament on Monday, powering reports that he is set to switch to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in time to play a big role in the Punjab election next year.

"The people of Punjab are looking for a change," was Mr Sidhu's telling comment to NDTV just before he resigned from the Rajya Sabha.

Without revealing anything, Mr Kejriwal left the field wide open for speculation with his tweet.

The 52-year-old former cricketer and commentator may be AAP's chief ministerial candidate in Punjab, say sources.

He is likely to meet Mr Kejriwal in Punjab in a couple of days.

Mr Sidhu's statement describing his post as a "burden" suggested resentment with his party. "With the closure of every window leading to Punjab the purpose stands defeated, now a mere burden. I prefer not to carry it," he said.

"In the war of right or wrong, you can't afford to be neutral rather than being self-centered. Punjab's interest is paramount."

Mr Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur, who is a lawmaker in Punjab, is also set to resign, say sources. She had announced her resignation on Facebook earlier but changed her mind.

Mr Sidhu's anticipated exit will hit Punjab's ruling Akali-BJP combine at a time it is seen to be facing a tough task retaining an upper hand in Punjab after two straight terms, challenged both by an aggressive AAP and a resurgent Congress.

A popular television personality known for his wit, Mr Sidhu was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April.

He had been upset when he was asked to make way for Arun Jaitley to contest from Amritsar during the 2014 national election and denied the chance to contest from the constituency he had represented for 10 years. When Mr Jaitley lost the election, Mr Sidhu was charged by local BJP leaders with sabotaging the party's cause.

But with AAP strengthening, Looks like Udta Punjab is about to become Doobta Punjab. Ungal Pai, move to any Madrasi state if you can't make it outside India.

It's just a conspiracy theory of mine.. but hear me out.

So AAP wins big enough in Punjab, Kejri got his pawn in place .. now they cook up a criminal or corruption case against Modi in Punjab and Punjab police is ordered to arrest him (PM). With State Police in his control, I think the guy will go bonkers .. BJP better watch out, even in Haryana which shares the capital with Punjab in Chandigarh.

Now with Punjab in tow, Kejri will start flying and Modi if not arrested will attempt appeasement of one and all to buy another term by hook or crook.

LoL. My signature says the same and I had started a thread where across the years politicians change their loyalties and ideas, but this one is quite fast. Within a year or so.
Sidhu's statements on Kejriwal.
“Main politics kabhi join nahi karunga, Aam Aadmi Party bana di. Main security nahi lunga. Z security le li. Main bungalow nahi lunga. Bungalow mein khud jhadu maarne lag gaya. Main koi jhooth bol raha hu?’ (‘I will never join politics, he created the Aam Aadmi Party. I will never take security cover. He took the Z security. I will not take a bungalow. He took a bungalow and started sweeping the floor himself.’ Am I lying?).’
This is a statement Navjot Singh Sidhu, fiery BJP leader and former Amritsar MP, made about Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal possibly during an election campaign. It’s also one that he would presently wish he had not made. This blast-from-the-past statement and many others will haunt Sidhu as he is all set to join the AAP according to multiple reports. Sidhu’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha, to which he was nominated earlier this year in a bid to placate him, has left BJP leaders shocked and jittery. After all, he is a brilliant orator who can rile up masses with political rhetoric.http://indianexpress.com/article/ind...t-him-2922678/

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This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends,only permanent interests. - Some Firang

Sidhu would have left some day or the other, BJP is and will probably always be smaller party in Punjab, so if he wants to have a shot at CM, he'd better leave BJP.

Some people on FB were commenting how BJP should declare Sidhu as CM candidate and part ways with Akalis.

My info/view from sources in Punjab BJP is that .. the BJP alliance with Akalis is a social alliance in interest of Hindu Sikh unity, also to keep Khalistani factions in check. BJP has sacrificed govt ambitions for the sake of Hindus who are in minority.. The situation during terrorism times was dire for Hindus in the state.